Tag Archives: new york

Carnival to offer one-way Caribbean cruises from NYC

Posted on by
Reply

Carnival to offer one-way Caribbean cruises from NYC

By Tom Stieghorst
Carnival Cruise Lines said it will diversify the itineraries of the Carnival Splendor, which sails from New York.

For the first time, it will offer a series of one-way cruises that go from New York to San Juan and vice versa.

The eight-day trips will stop in St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Anguilla and St. Maarten.
There will be six voyages, starting in October 2014.

Before that, Splendor will offer four-, five- and seven-day Canada/New England cruises running from June to October 2014.

The ship’s mainstay routes will continue to be eight-day roundtrip cruises to Florida/Bahamas or the eastern Caribbean.

Norwegian Breakaway christened in extravaganza

Posted on by
Reply

By Tom Stieghorst
Norwegian Breakaway RockettesNorwegian Breakaway was officially christened in an hour-plus extravaganza that culminated in a Rockettes chorus line and a crash of a champagne bottle onto the side of its Peter Max-painted hull.

The festivities were held in 10 areas throughout the ship and simulcast to each area.

Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan presided in the main theater, with help from key players such as “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro and chef Geoffrey Zakarian.

SpongeBob SquarePants and his Nickelodean friends danced in the Bar at the Atrium and the cast of ballroom dance show “Burn the Floor” tangoed in the Manhattan Room restaurant.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, delivered an invocation for the ship. Other dignitaries on hand were New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg; the premier of Bermuda, Craig Cannonier; and Perry Christie, prime minister of the Bahamas.

Sheehan noted that he used to drive a cab in New York (a video briefly flashed a copy of his 1975 license). “I’m a New Yorker through and through,” he said.

“We’ve taken the best of New York City and taken it to sea,” he said. “You get the best of both worlds”

Cunard to celebrate 10th anniversary of QM2 in 2014

Posted on by
Reply

Cunard to celebrate 10th anniversary of QM2 in 2014

By Tom Stieghorst
Cunard Line announced its 2014 deployments, and said its Queen Elizabeth ship will spend the second half of the year in the Mediterranean.

This year, it is spending most of the summer in northern Europe before transitioning to the Med in late August.

Cunard said it will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Queen Mary 2 with two May commemorative crossings that include special events and celebrations.

QM2 will also make 10 crossings between New York and Hamburg that feature two-night tours of Hamburg and Berlin.